The Optimist Creed (a lesson from my grandfather)

My Grandfather taught this to his children, and I carry a little card with it as a reminder to try and live as my grandparents did, with dignity, and integrity. So here it is:

The Optimist Creed

To be strong that nothing can disturb your piece of mind.

to talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all of your friends feel that there is something in them.

to look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievement of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the persistence of trouble.

Under the surface.

  Working on a large painting of spiky seeds that sit in a jar in my studio, I found it morphing into an underwater painting. I've been kayaking a lot this summer, and have been observing the plants moving with the current just under the surface.This was not a conscious choice, but I liked the result and decided to allow it to take me in the direction it wanted to go in.

 It needs work, but I'm enjoying the process! About 20 layers to go!

Norfolk Iron Works

Wandering Mind Studio: Eight visions wrap up, artist statement, and juror...

Wandering Mind Studio: Eight visions wrap up, artist statement, and juror...: Tuesday night I had the pleasure of participating and opening our exhibit for an eight person show at The Attleboro Arts Museum;  http://at...

Eight visions wrap up, artist statement, and jurors comments.

Tuesday night I had the pleasure of participating and opening our exhibit for an eight person show at The Attleboro Arts Museum;
 http://attleboroartsmuseum.org/index.php/exhibitions-events-2/
I thought it would be nice to share my artist statement here;

 

" Using paintings as a method of processing observations, emotions, and experiences has always felt natural to me. This series focuses on Tenacity, and staying resilient in trying times.

Sparked by frustration, and discontent, I worked without restraint and purged it all into the work. Tempestuous was painted with a migraine, I have no memory of painting it, it was in fact, painted by that headache.

 

The subjects for this series are symbolic of what I was processing. The Sweet Gum pods depicted in Impact, and Remedy, were found in a favorite aunt’s yard after her memorial service.

The bur in Transfixed is representative of those things that hook into us, cling, are difficult to shake off, like illness, depression, and addiction.

If the work appears vibrant and hopeful, that’s because it is."

 The jurors (Adam Adelson, director of Adelson Galleries) comments were also shared with me, and I'd like to share them with you.

Thank you Liz Devlin.

http://flux-boston.com/weekly-wrap-up-08-01-14/

Varied 'Visions' coming to Attleboro Arts Museum - The Sun Chronicle : Go

Varied 'Visions' coming to Attleboro Arts Museum - The Sun Chronicle : Go